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Excise Department Scam: Victimized Parents In Fear As Children Used For Ransom

Department of Excise sleuths have been involved in targeting teenagers over a period of time, especially those from reputable families and extorting large sums of ransom monies for their release, Colombo Telegraph can reveal today.

Helen Meegasmulla – The new Excise Commissioner General

A group of victims made up of several parents when contacted by Colombo Telegraph confirmed that collectively they are proceeding to file a Fundamental Rights case under the constitution of Sri Lanka against human rights violations.

Helen Meegasmulla was recently appointed to the post of Excise Commissioner General.

In a startling investigative discovery over a two-year period, Colombo Telegraph has credible information to confirm that high-ranking officers from the Department of Excise have been using different methods to lure and arrest and at times torture unsuspecting youth especially for drug-related offenses, in order to extort whopping sums of monies from their families.

These acts which still prevail mainly in Colombo and its surrounding suburbs, run concurrently between various stations due to the original group of operating officers being transferred to different stations. However it all began a few years back, when a group of Excise Officers were working together and were attached to the Special Operations Unit, working under the supervision of Superintendent of Excise Rohan Wijeratne.

The used methods vary from luring youth to purchase recreational drugs, especially at parties and night clubs, by using their own decoys to sell it, to drugs being delivered by mail or courier to their residences.

In reported incidences narrated by victims, it was told that once youth are arrested at either parties or night clubs, they are taken to their Department of Excise Offices and tortured into providing confessions under duress.

In some related cases in order to obtain confessions, arrested youth are handcuffed and hung by the beam of the ceiling and mercilessly hit with hose pipes. They then get the parents of the youth to their station and inform them that their children have confessed to their crimes and that they would be produced in High Court.

Parents are sternly warned that their children will not be granted bail for such admitted offences and will subsequently be jailed for lengthy periods of time.

Large sums of monies ranging from such as Rs 1 to 2 million are then demanded for their release. Parents are barely given a couple of hours to find such ransom money for the release of their children.

Most emotionally drained parent victims speaking to Colombo Telegraph said that they would part with whatever they possessed in order to have their children saved.

“If we decided to take on these Department of Excise Officers using the proper legal means, it is going to take time to prove our childrens’ innocence,” said one distressed parent who did not want to be identified.

“Our children will be in remand custody in the interim for a considerable period of time. They could be harassed whilst being in custody too. The unscrupulous Department of Excise Officers frame these children in such a way, they basically don’t give you much options at that time. So almost all parents pay these large sums of ransom monies, take their children and go away. Individually we are weak and they take advantage of that. But collectively when we victims are united or if we have a fall back option when in distress, we can prevent abuse of this nature from taking place” the parent went on to say.

However after ransom monies are paid the youth are still produced in court on a fabricated offence, imposed a fine prior to permitting the parents to take their children home.

Victims believe that this is done to prevent them from filing legal action against the Excise officers, despite knowing that they were being victimized.

Meanwhile another parent claimed that his son had received a letter in the post that contained a drug resembling a sheet of small stamps which was neatly concealed.

“Apparently this is a type of a hallucinating drug that is used by placing a piece of the torn off stamp under the tongue,” the parent said.

“No sooner this letter arrived, Excise sleuths raided our residence and arrested my son. We had to pay a fortune in ransom money to get our son released. Till to date we do not know who sent that letter addressed to my son,” the parent said.

In other related cases, Excise Department sleuths are reported to visit houses of youth, especially where they know they can bully their way through parents and arrest their children for questioning.

They claim they are acting on a tip off. They then forcibly handcuff and take them away to their station. Subsequently forced confessions are obtained and parents are forced to pay ransoms for the release of their children.

Several victims when contacted by Colombo Telegraph revealed that they have been petrified to report such incidents of abuse, citing fear of being continuously victimized, but more so don’t think the current government will provide them fair justice and protection.

When Colombo Telegraph investigated these issues further, it was shocking to find that in fact these Excise Officers were acting with freedom, working in tandem with certain underworld figures, lawyers and under the protection of those holding office in parliament.

However, during our in depth investigation into these allegations, Colombo Telegraph obtained startling evidence of several voice recordings, where Department of Excise Inspector Thilak Disanayake is badgering a parent victim and eventually extorting money. The confirmation of Dissanayake’s recorded voice was listened to by a reliable source within the Department of Excise who identified him.

1) A parent speaking to Colombo Telegraph on condition of anonymity said: “My child was alone at home as my wife and I were away. This is when these officers came home and kidnapped our son. He initially got a call from one of his friends late at night, who said he was outside his gate and needed help. When he opened the front door, several Department of Excise Officers who had by then secretly entered our garden pounced on my son, took away his mobile phone and punched him mercilessly. They had in fact rounded up two other boys prior to driving to our residence to kidnap my son. They then bundled my son into the van much against his wishes and wedged him on the floor in between the seats. Even his screams for help were not heeded by our neighbours as it was way past midnight. They then punched him continuously on his head till he almost passed out. When they got to their office, the officers then handcuffed him and hung him on the beam of the ceiling. My son was then hammered with hose pipes on his back until he fainted. His wrists were cut and bleeding due to the handcuffs and in fact the scars are visible even till to date. After he regained consciousness, they got him to confess under duress and also touch certain parcels containing drugs. They also got him to sign a blank statement page. They themselves then recorded a statement of their choice on the blank page my son was forced to sign. It was only after that and around 3am did they permit my son to call us. They demanded Rs1.5 million at first and frightened us saying that my son was one of the most wanted drug dealers in the country and that if they produce him in High Court he will be sentenced to 10 years in prison. They gave us only a couple of hours to find this money, if not they said they were going to take him to courts. We had no choice but to give them the money they demanded and save our child. They reduced the extorted amount to Rs 10 lakhs after we kept on pleading that we did not have that kind of money at our disposal. However, after giving them the demanded money they still said they have to produce my son in court. They then falsely planted some cannabis on him and filed a charge. We had to further incur several thousands of rupees on top of this to pay a lawyer to appear in court and also pay a fine. On this particular day the other two boys’ parents also paid several lakhs of rupees in a similar fashion. These Excise Officers extorted a couple of millions of rupees only from us that night. I sent the Bribery Commission an email on their official address about this incident, but till to date, I am still to get a response from them. I am not sure if some of them in there are also involved in this racket.”

2) Another parent speaking to Colombo Telegraph also on condition of anonymity, as his son is still a student, said: “In my case my son and a group of his friends were arrested by these same officers Dissanayake, Ratnayake and Chaminda at a party they had attended. A group of boys, including my son, were given some recreational drugs by some other boys who were also revelers at the party. Little did my son and his friends realize that these boys who gave them the drugs were part of the same team that was working closely with these Excise Officers. Mid-way through the party these Excise Officers raided the event and arrested my son and his friends. On this particular day nearly ten boys were taken in to custody by them to their office and after several hours they ordered my son to call us. By this time Dissanayake, Ratnayake and Chaminda had completed all their formalities and when we arrived they told us that are children would be produced in High Court and sent to jail. On that particular night all of us parents had to pay money between the ranges of Rs 3 to 5 Lakhs each. It is confirmed that when monies are extorted, Dissanayake, Ratnayake and Chaminda also give these informant boys a commission from the collection.”

3) An account of a single mother victimized by these Excise Officers on two accounts told Colombo Telegraph: “The first time around I sold my gold chain and borrowed more money from my retired father to pay them Rs 8 Lakhs and save my child. Then six months later they came a second time when my father and son were at home. My son had nothing on his possession or were there any drugs in the house. When my 70-year-old father resisted their entry, they just pushed him away and he went sprawling on the floor. They then said they are taking my son as some other boy had mentioned that he had supplied him some drugs. These are all false allegations. They just take them to their office and force confessions out of them. This time around I had to borrow 3 lakhs from my friends to pay these scrupulous Excise Officers. At this rate I will have to sell myself on the streets or commit suicide, as I can’t take this anymore.”

Meanwhile Colombo Telegraph contacted the current Department of Excise Special Operations Bureau Superintendent Channa Weerakkody for clarification on the allegations made against these identified Excise sleuths.

Superintendent Weerakkody said: “Yes, I have received several verbal complaints that there have been numerous allegations made against these officers. These crimes reported had taken place before I was transferred here to oversee this unit. Prior to us moving to our current office located at Nawala Road near the Open University, the Department of Excise Special Operations Bureau was located at Park Lane in Borella and prior to that down Baseline Road opposite the Trillium Residencies.These were the two located offices where these crimes have allegedly have said to have taken place. However, all these officers whose names are mentioned have been transferred to other stations within the island. None of them work under me at present. I can personally vouch that under my watch none of these abductions and extortion have taken place nor will it take place under my supervision in the future. Please do publish my mobile number and that of my O.I.C. Hemantha Pathirage in your story and do urge anyone who has been victimized to contact us. Also please do inform the general public that our numbers are open 24/7 and to not hesitate to contact us at any time if they are being victimized.”

Sources close to the Department of Excise when contacted by Colombo Telegraph said: “A couple years ago there were these groups of Excise Officers who all worked closely as one unit. There was Mohan Wijekoon, Prasana Pathirana, Thilak Disanayake, Nishantha Ratnayaka, A.S. Chaminda, Wijesekara, Chinthaka and Shamika Lakshan. They set out each night targeting to make a whopping sum of Rs 5 million.”

“However, all of them have got transferred to different stations and now run their own individual units of kidnap and extortion. Mohan Sampath Wijekoon and Chinthaka run the Colombo City unit. A.S. Chaminda is attached to Excise Station Kesbewa, Thilak Disanayake and Nishantha Ratnayaka are attached to Excise H.I. Station in Jayawardenapura whilst Prasana Pathirana and Wijesekara are attached to the ACMI Bottling Plant in Hanwella,” they went on to say.

Elaborating further our sources said “Shamika Lakshan was interdicted from the Department of Excise after he was caught with drugs by the police. However his case is pending and he is out on bail. However, he still operates with all of these units on an individual basis and has the protection of a current government Cabinet Minister. All of them act with impunity due to the current governmental support they receive. This is a massive mafia operation.”

What was startling was when our sources went on to expose the rest that supported this operation.

“There are lawyers who work in tandem with them and pretend to be supportive to victims when in fact they collect large sums of monies for their legal services and also to pay off the extortion monies to these Excise Officers. There are also certain judges who provide rulings in their favour, especially when innocent parties are produced on false charges to courts. Then they do have certain JMO’s who would provide any medical report they require. This is besides key underworld figures who provide various services as and when they require,” our sources said.

Commenting further our sources said: “Now that they have been scattered they are making a huge effort to congregate once again. Thilak Disanayake has a brother who works within the Sri Lanka Administration Services and is responsible for submitting recommendations for government servants transfers. He is currently trying his utmost best to influence his Commissioner General to get A.S. Chaminda transferred to Jayawardenapura, so that he can join his brother Thilak Dissanayake and Nishantha Ratnayake. This is besides Mohan Wijekoon who is making every attempt to be transferred to the Department of Excise Special Operations Bureau. This is the key place where officers are permitted to go on raids island wide. Currently those positioned in other stations could only conduct raids in their respective areas. However, Thilak Disanayake and Nishantha Ratnayaka, who are currently stationed at Jayawardenapura, are managed by a Chief Inspector named Jagath Perera. He is a weak Chief Inspector and Disanayake and Ratnayaka run circles around him. He can’t handle these guys and they assign any duty that they prefer to do. They go on illegal raids to other parts of the country, arrests youth and bring them to Jayawardenapura whenever possible. They are not supposed to do that. With many of these alleged perpetrators stationed in different stations at present, they still use different kinds of modus operandi. For instance they now rent a van and go arrest youth out of their periphery. Then they park the vehicle on the streets and call the parents. They collect the money wherever they have parked their vehicle and extort monies and only then do they release the kidnapped youth. Most of these officers who have been involved in these abductions have got used to a lifestyle that cannot be supported by their government servant drawn salaries. The Bribery and Corruption Department should investigate all of these guys and find out as to how they have improved their life styles through all these ill-gotten wealth. They collect huge sums of monies like this and all they do is go and gamble in casinos. They are very reluctant to even go to their homes after duty. On numerous occasions even their wives come over to the office and complain to the Officer in Charge that their husbands are not coming home. They say that their Excise Officer husbands continuously complain that they are assigned several raids and the demands of their jobs don’t make it permissible for them to go home often.”

When Colombo Telegraph inquired as to how this menace could be wiped out, our sources said: “We are fortunate that for the very first time a woman named Helen Meegasmulla is to be appointed as the head of the Department of Excise. She is tough and the ideal choice. These guys are worse than terrorists. This is a different type of terrorism that has to be quashed in a different manner. Only those who have been victimized will understand. Firstly the government needs to provide the assurance and protection for victims to come forward. They need to fearlessly come forward and provide details of their cases. The government needs to get involved and gain the collective support of the Special Task Force, Police Narcotics Department, Commission to Investigate Bribery and Corruption and the judiciary to expedite reported cases. There is no way out otherwise.”

If in the event you are been made a victim under similar circumstances, please do contact the Excise Department Special Operations Bureau immediately:

Latest comments

yusuf/September 22, 2017

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Now we need to know if the boys were Tamils or Muslims, so that our resident trolls Jimmy and Johnny can take over.

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Ben Hurling/September 22, 2017

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Sir, What;s the news here? From President’s Office to Grama Sevaka level this country is rotten, brutal, criminal & corrupt. Most horrific, inhumane, criminal rackets are being run by those who are in-charge of our protection & well-being. Those whom we are supposed to trust as citizens. Police, Judiciary, Politicians, health services, education, Customs & Excise are all among the worst organized crime groups in the country. Shi* must hit the fan NOW. We have had enough. There is got to be a civil uprising int his country. Sagala should resign. That mentally-disturbed, criminal IGP should be shown the door & jailed for well-documented criminal assault. Sri Lanka must produce a Lee Kuan Yew RIGHT NOW. Cheers!

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Amarasiri/September 22, 2017

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Helen Meegasmulla – The new Excise Commissioner General,

So in addition to taxing and making the citizens pay, you have now exercise officers to go after young boys and fleece their parents. Is this the new replacement for the White Vans of Gotabaya Rajapksa and cronies, with a new twist?

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Native Vedda/September 23, 2017

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Sunil/September 23, 2017

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Lee Kuan Yew is old news from a old world long gone…
Those methodologies are of the past and worked only in the past…

But these heartless criminals and their politicians, lawyers, doctors and all who are a part of this criminal network must be publicly executed to set an example for other heartless criminals of this nature…

This cancer must be cut out and destroyed before it destroys our country…

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Ben Hurling/September 23, 2017

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Native & Sunil,
Agree. LKY may well be overrated, in this day and age. Besides, he was no champion of fundamental HR either. Leaving a black mark on his otherwise fantastic legacy. Lee was human too. Not perfect. Though we try to elevate him to the level of a SUPERMAN. Let us forgive ourselves though. We are engaged in a desperate search for answers, methods & solutions to rescue our country from GANG RAPE by corrupt SLFP & UNP CROOKS. Taking turns for 70 long years now, since Independence.
Cheers!

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Sunil/September 24, 2017

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Ben, We don’t need another dictator to clean up the Rajapaksas dictators mess… I feel your frustration too. But if we elect another dictator we will only get more of the same. These criminals are banking on exactly that.

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paul/September 25, 2017

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Did someone mention my name?

Cheers,
GR

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Native Vedda/September 24, 2017

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Ben Hurling
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This island had made too many fundamental mistakes during the early years in the nation building process.
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Now its the pay back time.
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We always talk about the distant fundamentalism, have conveniently forgot our own fundamentalists. Perhaps its due to pettiness of thoughts and behaviour that produced more and more fundamentalists.
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One of my Elders once told me one has to bake large cake if one wants to share it with large piece for large number of people. One has to have large heart before baking the cake. The point is none of the fundamentalist possess large enough heart, intellectual honesty, and willing to learn to bake large cake to share with the next person.
–
Now we see lot of the grass root fundamentalists jockeying for power, or may be they want to be the Grand Mufti, Grand Wizard, prelate of Assgiria, Hindutva leader of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ( “the world is one family”), ………….. all at the same time.
–
Watch little islanders Dayan, Udhaya, Wimal, Gota, Mahinda, Dinesh ………………………………. when you take them out of their comfort zone the island they are nobody and they have nothing to be proud of. Seriously tell me what is their contribution to wider world, humanity, the country, ……………… apart from helping themselves to power, position, wealth ………………..

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Chedi/September 23, 2017

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CT has done a great job here and this fearless journalist must be commended. The mainstream press will never publish this information. All they do is publish photos of all these named and shamed officers beaming in front of a sham drug bust.This is for our monthly consumption. The raid is always set up for such publicity.

Channa Weerakoddy is requesting parents to come forward and share their terrible experiences with him. But does he also offer them protection? How? It is obvious that these officers have handlers in strategic places who will finally be privy to the names of the parents who complain. And of course their sons. Weerakoddy says that these officers have been transferred but the article also states that they are yet operating without fear from their new locations. How come? It should be the new Excise Commissioner who must come out and tell us what she hopes to do with these beasts from her Dept unleashed on our streets. How many more are there still to be named?

Drug Dealers must be severely dealt with while users must be offered rehab where the root cause of the want to experiment is got at and then other options shown, doors unlocked and windows opened. Looking at the hopeless heroin addicts in our country it has to be seen as a chronic relapsing disease. Should we put diabetics in jail?

“People use drugs for one of two reasons — either to potentiate pleasures or relieve unpleasure — and the types of drugs and the type of people who use drugs carries a lot according to the conditions of life in the country”

“Portugal decriminalized the use of all drugs in 2001. Weed, cocaine, heroin, you name it — Portugal decided to treat possession and use of small quantities of these drugs as a public health issue, not a criminal one. The drugs were still illegal, of course. But now getting caught with them meant a small fine and maybe a referral to a treatment program — not jail time and a criminal record”.

“In search of a solution to the growing drug crisis, a committee of judges, psychiatrists and scientists was formed. The committee had the radical idea to contemplate legalising all forms of drugs – from heroin to cannabis – which would open the possibility to start treating drug users as patients instead of criminals”.

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Analyst/September 22, 2017

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This is mind boggling blood curdling stuff had been allowed to happen for Decades to our young ones but no one had the power or brave enough to question these thieves,
WHERE IS OUR SANGHA???? Where are the 10 PRECEPTS?? Thieving and Drug taking is included too??

Why why why , because the big shots from the PAST AND PRESENT GOVERNMENTS AND THE HANGERS ON WERE CONNECTED TO THIS BARBARISM ALLOWED TO COMMITT TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND MOST OF ALL OUR CHILDREN.
NO one bothered when it was happening to MINORITY COMMUNITY,!! Why because they were of different species????

Now face the fact , it’s happening to your own children!! So you have woken up from your slumbers FOLKS!!
God is great and KARMA IS A BITCH WHICH BITES EVERY ONE WHEN IT COMES TO THEM.

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Analyst/September 22, 2017

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Catch the Sharks First from the Parliament then the Sprats , ok ??
Then on second thoughts First Catch the Sprats then the Sharks in that order OK!!

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Jimsofty/September 23, 2017

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Yusuf: IF it is KUDU business, we know it is quran following muslims. Why Risahd Bathiuddin is silent. I heard, he had settled Bangli-muslims from every where in the country. So, some muslims became homeless and those were settles from wilpattu to kilinochchi jungles.

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Native Vedda/September 23, 2017

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Jimsofty dimwit
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“IF it is KUDU business, we know it is quran following muslims.”
–
So the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs was infested with “quran following muslims”, under Minister and prime minister D.M. Jayaratne, Secretary Weerasinghe, ………………………………..when it intervened to release a heroin container from the Customs in December 2013?

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Arrow/September 23, 2017

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You cannot arrest patriotic sinhala buddist police officers in this country you bugger. If by chance you do, the monks will go on a pindapanaya begging spree to save these patriotic men. Gnanasara and the asgiriya sanga mudalali’s will open their foul mouths in defence of these patriots and the govt will naturally oblige as they have in the past, not to mention they’ll find a way to twist the story and tie it to a minority community in one way or a nother.

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Emil van der Poorten/September 25, 2017

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Arrow:
You are dead right!

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Sunil/September 23, 2017

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These fellows and the entire criminal network including the lawyers & politicians protecting or working with them should be exposed, rounded up on the galle face green and be publicly executed…

No mercy for these scum…

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paul/September 25, 2017

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Anybody need a quick solution to all these problems?

Cheers,
GR

PS It comes at a price

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Anonymous/September 28, 2017

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GR is part of the problem. These are all probably his criminals!!?

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Chedi/September 22, 2017

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This is horrendous. The peddlers are protected and roam free. Nobody knows what happens to the few and far between drug hauls that are schemed as an eyewash. All our govts use drug and alcohol eradication as their pet projects but there is no visible plan to nab the real culprits: because they themselves slip in as a part of this team and know whats happening in advance. Wheels within wheels. Deep state. Call it whatever. Whom can a parent trust to make a complaint? Which is better, rehabilitation of drug users or prison terms? What are the preventive measures taken by schools and civil society to educate our children on the dangers of succumbing to peer pressure? As the article states this gang still operates with impunity. How come? Parents are blackmailed by these beasts to pay up bcos they say possession comes before the high court and there is no bail.

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Annesley Dias/September 22, 2017

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My brothers son 21 years was picked up by the excise sleuths in front of St Marys church dehiwala and was taken to custody and mercilessly beaten.

Later the parents were informed and 300,000 ransom money was paid to the sleuths for his release.

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Hi Annesley,
Please ask your brother to contact the Editor of Colombo Telegraph.
Many victims are doing so and it is time all victimized parents got together for the sake of wiping out this new type of terrorism that is gripping society.
It is time to let these Department of Excise inspectors and officers: Thilak Disanayake, Nishantha Ratnayaka, A.S. Chaminda, Prasana Pathirana, Mohan Sampath Wijekoon, Wijesekara, Chinthaka and a now interdicted staff member Shamika Lakshan that we are coming after them.
Cheers
Pay Back Time

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Ben Hurling/September 22, 2017

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SL VLOG on YouTube has reported the same. Got any info about these “Scum of the Earth” in SL uniforms, please help reliable, fearless journalists to expose, name and shame them. This is our country. We should not let these scumbags in law enforcement roam free on our streets. We must take civic responsibility. Cheers!

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Native Vedda/September 23, 2017

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Annesley Dias
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You are lying, this does not happen in this island. Have you got undoctored video evidence to show your nephew being arrested, taken into custody and mercilessly beaten by the sleuths?
–

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shankar/September 22, 2017

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““There are lawyers who work in tandem with them and pretend to be supportive to victims when in fact they collect large sums of monies for their legal services and also to pay off the extortion monies to these Excise Officers. There are also certain judges who provide rulings in their favour, especially when innocent parties are produced on false charges to courts. Then they do have certain JMO’s who would provide any medical report they require. This is besides key underworld figures who provide various services as and when they require,” our sources said.”

doctors,judges what more do we need for this country to go to the dogs.High time we started putting the professionals in jail.Otherwise generations are going to suffer unless this dangerous trend is reversed.

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Analyst/September 22, 2017

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To the Excise Special Operations Bureau:: Congratulations And Good Luck:

This kind of barbaric acts by the Excise officers are not new in SL. Before any acts are passed by the government to tackle this menace of Excise officers the power should be given to a very clean Bribery Commission which is already in place.
Bribery and Corruption is the root of the cause in this country , sorry for the parents whose children had been targeted by these unscrupulous thieves acting in the name of law and order of SL.

The minority children and the parents from the North had suffered for Decades in the hands of these THIEVES, … so folks I guess it’s a new pill to swallow for the Southerners.

So it’s time to catch the culprits and put and end to this practice of targeting children by these HEARTLESS THIEVES ,
NO OTHER NAMES WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR THESE THIEVES.
I will bless this Bureau on its new venture in tackling this menace .

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punchinilame/September 22, 2017

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Thank you and congratulations to Colombo Telegraph for this investigative reporting. May your hands be
strengthened. Now one can realize why the New Commissioners appointment was objected to by employees
in this Department. Let us hope that the subject Minister pays a visit to all these Offices and look out for that
hangers beam? The UN too will be interested how Drug control works in shameless Sri Lanka.

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Mumbo jumbo/September 22, 2017

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Startling information of a horrendous criminal activities of yet another state body submerged in corruption upto their eyeballs. The question that begs an answer by the so called CID and intelligence sleuths of this country is what were you buggers doing while this was going on ?? If the media (CT) can unravel such activities, what were those official clowns doing by not busting it much earlier ?

For how long has this being going on as it could’ve started recently ? Who are their god fathers ? Who is the cabinet minister ? These are questions for the parliament and the CID to answer. If such widespread criminal activities cannot be busted by them then how can we expect them to catch bigger criminals?

The drug busting and gold smuggling rackets that’s going on at many places and the airport could be all cooked up stories at this rate. The entire department is seen posing behind the loot. What for ? It’s their bloody job to catch them and not pose for photo shoots ! No where else in the world do we see such comic scenes !!

WE NEED ANSWERS FROM THE AUTHORITIES. Perhaps they’ll lie low than cook up an answer

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Estate Labourer/September 22, 2017

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“…………in order to obtain confessions, arrested youth are handcuffed and hung by the beam of the ceiling and mercilessly hit with hose pipes.”

Why can’t they use this method with Arjun Aloysius?

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Estate Labourer/September 22, 2017

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Does the new Excise Commissioner General take a shot now and then? If she does not, then she is not fit to hold that post!

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Raj/September 22, 2017

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This is the result when the hierarchy is corrupt Good luck to the new Commissioner. I hope she will have the guts to hang these despicable thugs out to dry. The police & the judiciary system needs overhauling now.

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Analyst/September 22, 2017

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Catch THE PARLIAMENT DRUG BARRONS AND THEIR CHORTS FIRST.
CATCH THE PARLIAMENT DRUG BARRONS AND THER COOLIES FIRST.
CATCH THEM ALL BEFORE THEY VANISH TO DRUG HEAVENS OF THE WORLD.

CT. you have listened to our Rants when you brought articles of SOAP OPERA TYPES.

BRING OUT THE THIEVES IN YOUR ARTICLES WHO IS DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY IN DIFFERENT SHAPES AND FORMS.
WE WILL BE GREATFUL FOR EXPOSING THE CANCER OF CORRUPTION WHICH HAS DESTROYED OUR NATION FOR DECADES AND DECADES, WORST DURING THE LAST REGIME.
KEEP IT UP .
GREAT NEWS COLOMBO TELEGRAPH!!

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Non PhD/September 22, 2017

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Why can not the GOSL put strict people like Sarath Fonseka and Ven Ratna Thero and Handunetti from JVP to be in charge of drug affairs as a high levek team.

What is the point President MS raising the drug problem seeking help from UN when no effective action is taken internally..

I have not read a single analysis written by DJ to resolve the drug problem in SL.
Also DJ can partner with Maha Sangha and spear head a supporting team to S.F team.

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Nishan/September 22, 2017

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Best thing is to blow this whole country up and start again.

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Native Vedda/September 23, 2017

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Nishan
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“Best thing is to blow this whole country up and start again.”
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Where will you be when the whole country is being blown up? Will you be importing/inviting boats load of Kallathonies again? ……….. Sorry I am bit thick bear with me.

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Russell/September 25, 2017

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Native Vedda, whom are you referring as Kallathonies ? is it the Zoysa’s from Kerala, or Ratnayake’s from Odisha or Wejeratne’s from Bengal or Rajapaksha’s from all way from Africa.

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Gune/September 22, 2017

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There is a huge craving for dirty money and the corruption goes far beyond the exercise dept. beautiful Sri Lanka is sadly getting uglier by the day.

Hon. PM & President over to you.

Mr President when your child ran amok in Night Clubs you illegally used your position to bail him out with the assistance of the IGP. What can these hapless parents do. I feel so sorry for them and our country.

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Upul/September 22, 2017

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What a horrific and deplorable people are those who were running this scam? The highest possible punishment should be meted out to these scum bags and their affiliates who operated this scam. I cannot imagine the plight of the victims and their families who were targeted by these unethical scoundrels.

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Noel/September 22, 2017

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CT through their investigative journalism has done the public a yeoman service it seems in exposing officers designated with responsibility to serve; using their official status to act worse than ‘Brigands’! It is high time the people of Sri Lanka started to force a change in the nation’s culture that has been plagued by Criminal Elements gaining electoral votes and thereafter sticking it to you. This must be stopped and all those responsible must be brought to justice.
Excellent investigative journalism. I hope the folks realize that they just can’t remain silent, but must express themselves by writing in to let the authorities know that the systematic extortion carried out by those few must not be swept under the carpet. Let’s see…

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K.Pillai/September 22, 2017

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The article is grim and highlights the doings of a section unscrupulously tarnishing the reputation of Lanka.
In SL there are very few traditional rich. There are lots of “nouveau riche”. This breed (came into being over the last two decades) would not have gotten into this club if not for political connections. The Lankan Excise persons are able to blackmail the nouveau riche. One sees a contradiction here: Where the hell is this connection?
Colombo has become a drugs hub, no doubt driven by some influential politicians. The Lankan Excise Department is complicit in this industry. The cases reported here seem to be operated by some lower down to earn pocket money.
CT recommends that victims contact the Excise Department Special Operations Bureau immediately.
No Sir. (Quote from article) ~ “Firstly the government needs to provide the assurance and protection for victims to come forward”
The article names and shames many. For example ~ ” Shamika Lakshan was interdicted from the Department of Excise after he was caught with drugs by the police. However his case is pending and he is out on bail. However, he still operates with all of these units on an individual basis and has the protection of a current government Cabinet Minister……………”.
Why is CT scared to name the Cabinet Minister?

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Uthungan/September 23, 2017

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The “nouveau riche” trend got unleaded from about the time the ethnic crises swamped the island like a sunami from 1977 following UNP’s JRJ’ advent as PM and later President.
That sunami made many rich in the country irrespective of their race,religion or language.
Unless a mechanism to change that trend is discovered and applied to quell the volatile spate of communal hatred, hostility, suspicion, greed, lies that have all combined to subvert democracy, rule of law and justice. It will continue.
For that to happen the Executive Presidency has to go.

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Uthungan/September 23, 2017

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Correction
… trend got unleashed

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Jimsofty/September 23, 2017

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Sri lanka doe snot have law enforcement and courts. That is the problem. Maithripala should establish ministry for law enforcement and courts and about ten ministers to over power it..

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shankar/September 23, 2017

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“Shamika Lakshan was interdicted from the Department of Excise after he was caught with drugs by the police. However his case is pending and he is out on bail. However, he still operates with all of these units on an individual basis and has the protection of a current government Cabinet Minister. All of them act with impunity due to the current governmental support they receive. This is a massive mafia operation.”

who is this government minister.The president must sack him immediately.No reason need be given by the president just like he did for arunthika.The root cause of the crime and corruption in this country is the politicians who give patronage to the criminals.They are the head of the mafia.

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shankar/September 23, 2017

these buggers must be arrested immediately and just like in the vidya case president has to fast track the court proceedings and they should be sent to jail for at least 25 years,otherwise we will continue to see this country being ruined right before our eyes due to a lethargic president and the absence of a Lee kuan yew or mahathir here.There are times that the president has shown he can be one of them,but he must become more tougher and ruthless,he is too good now.

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Plato./September 23, 2017

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The culprits have been named in this article,Thilak Dissanayake,,Nishantha Ratnayaka etc etc etc.
Why wait any longer? Give these buggers the same treatment they gave to their victims. This is the only way out!

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Native Vedda/September 23, 2017

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Plato
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“Why wait any longer?”
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They maybe closely related/connected to the mistress of ministers, police officers, powerful suffronistas, members of Karaka Sangha Sabha, ……………….. top army brass, … They may also be the protectors of Sinhala/Buddhism.
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How do you intent to arrest them?
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The entire country will be up in arms.

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justice/September 23, 2017

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1

What has been happening in the north and east has now come down south with a vengeance.
The terror regime in the northeast was ignored down south all these days as “the former terrorists and their supporters deserved it” was the thinking.
Impunity increased in stature and is now widespread.

Sri Lanka has now degenerated into a “lawless nation”.

Politicians who do know and occasionally come to know lawless acts of state officers, tended to ignore as they and their progeny are/were OK.
Their progeny who commit unlawful acts are ‘protected’.

The new Commissioner is helpless as she has to have the cooperation of the police, in tacking this new menace which has crept into her department, and policemen of all ranks who have clean records of service are now a rare species.
I wish her the best of luck.

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Champa/September 23, 2017

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Disgusting. Excise Department officials are corrupt! Taking ransom from youth is unacceptable and unbelievable. Every culprit should hunt down and severely punish in accordance with the law.

Now I see, that is why some Excise Department officers (or Unions) acted like stung by bees against the appointment of Ms. Helen Meegasmulla.

Congratulations to you Helen. You have a herculean task ahead. Make the “Excise Department sober”. :D

Good luck and godspeed to you.

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Analyst/September 23, 2017

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Chumps
For the first time you and I are on the same page. Hurray.

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Native Vedda/September 24, 2017

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Champa the practitioner of the oldest ………………….
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“Make the “Excise Department sober”. :D”
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It is possible only when it is liberated from Sinhala/Buddhist fascist hold.

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Champa/September 24, 2017

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Native Vedda — LTTE Rump …………………

No, first this country should get rid of LTTE sympathizers who promote LTTE’s separatist agenda.

Sinhalese Buddhists will do the needful when one of the two elections come. If it was not hold on time, you will see the power of Sinhalese Buddhists as never seen in the recent history.

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K A Sumanasekera/September 24, 2017

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This is no issue for our Dalit Kids……. ,,, Their Moms & Dads may have a Joint after a hard days back busting work………. The .Kids may have pull too occasionally……… Even then the Sleuths are not going to waste their time catching them to do torture………. Because their parents have no money to pay Kappan……….But the issue , the real issue for the Dalits is how Aloysious is pumping out Gal from W M Mendis Stills, after the big Loot from the Dalits EPF.
.Here are some mind boggling stats……..Imports of Alcohol in 2013 was only 10 Million Litres…….. ,, After Dr Ranil took the Oaths to give Yahapalanaya , , imports shot up to 20 Million just in 2015……… From 2015 to date the total Imports are 50 million Litres…………….Most of it by W M Mendis…………Mendis produced only 2.9 Million Gal in 2014…….. And guess what……….. Young Aloysious has bumped it up to 9 Million by 2017……….That is a whopping 300 percent increase…………How cool is that………..Wonder whether these Sleuths go after Aloysious?……….Or they just help Aloysious with ” Paper Work” under Instructions from the relevant Yahapalana ministers?………

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Native Vedda/September 24, 2017

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KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
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“This is no issue for our Dalit Kids……. ,,, Their Moms & Dads may have a Joint after a hard days back busting work”
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Seriously are they doing ‘hard days back busting work’? When, why and where? Your people never lifted a finger to earn a living, they have been living out of their entitlement, kapang, loot, bribe, running brothel, commissions, income from drug, selling arms and other proscribed goods to your rich brethren VP, ……
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Actually those who do ‘hard days back busting work’ are being exported to Medieval Middle East Kingdoms. Shameless KASmaalam please stop campaigning for dalits as you sound hypocritical Malt Socialist.
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Middle East Medieval kingdom import labour from this island to wash their bum because they are lazy bums. You export poor women to Middle East Medieval kingdom to wash their lazy bums because you are lazy bums.

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Helen Meegasmulla has been made aware of this expose and apparently is livid with these guys.
However as the journalist has mentioned in the story, she requires all the support she needs to get down to the bottom of this.
Hope Sagala, IGP Pujith and Mangala the Minister of Finance that the Excise Department comes under, orders a thorough investigation.
This lady should shut her critics and prove that she is worthy to hold such a post by taking this entire team down.

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Plato./September 24, 2017

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Native.

……The entire country will be up in arms…..you say.
OMG. True, and it will be Kuthurooks all round with Alcohol in plenty.
Even SJ, a notorious teetotaler, hitherto,may join!

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Tilvin Fernando/September 24, 2017

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Every fraudster, rapist, murderer goes to FCID and come back smiling. Why cant it be the say with the Narcotics excise dept. Why cant FCID be like Excise sleuths

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Kalum/September 25, 2017

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Excise Department should publish in their websites, the bar addresses of all the liquor licenses they have issued, and within 24 hours public will inform the bars that don’t have the licenses if this license list is published. And in turn authorities can take action immediately. But, its highly unlikely that they will publish the license details, because this how they make money, they let unlicensed bars to operate and get ransom from them monthly. In other words, these unlicensed bars are virtually owned by the Excise Department officials and only its operations are outsourced to a third party as the major portion of the profit is transferred to the Excise department officials. It’s a challenge to the government , can you publish the liquor license list in your website ?

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Upali/September 25, 2017

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This is not a problem. Bandula G. who solved our cost of living problem by teaching us how a family could live a month with Rs.2500 will now get the Buddhist monks to invade the streets to collect money to reimburse ransom money paid by the parents.

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